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Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has shown her support to co-star Simon Gregson after he bravely opened up on his mental health battle during a candid appearance on ITV’s Loose Women

Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has expressed her support for fellow cast member Simon Gregson after he courageously shared his experiences with anxiety attacks.

Simon, 50, graced the Loose Women panel on ITV’s chat show on Thursday, January 1 to open up about his personal battle with mental health challenges, shedding light on the issue in an effort to help others going through similar troubles.

The following day, Sue joined Coleen Nolan, Nadia Sawalha, and Kelly Holmes on the daytime show, praising Simon with affectionate words: “I’m really proud of him for talking out because I think it sounds like a classic example of somebody who was very good at hiding it.”

Sue Cleaver shared a sweet message her co-star and admitted that she is ‘proud’ of Simon(Image: ITV)

She continued to express her admiration: “So you wouldn’t have been with Simon and thought ‘oh’ because he was really good at hiding it and he felt like he had to hide it. Now we know – I’m really really proud of him.”

Veteran soap character Steve McDonald, played by Simon since the tender age of 15, recalled his own ordeal, admitting: “Yeah, with me it all came to a head in about 2015,” reports the Liverpool Echo.

Delving further into his condition, he shared: “I kept having anxiety attacks, panic attacks. Which is so bizarre because I’ve been having them all day today. I was like there’s no way I can go on. It just hits you like a ton of bricks and it just makes you completely incapacitated.”

Opening up about the onset of his health troubles, he candidly shared: “I’ve been having them since about 1990, but I just kind of got on with it.”

Simon has suffered from anxiety disorder for over a decade

He revealed a turning point came when his condition became noticeable to his children, admitting: “But then when I had children, and they were noticing it and they started talking that they’re getting anxious, I thought ‘Oh I’ve passed it on, it’s like a cold I’ve given them.’”

The actor has previously confessed that his rapid rise to stardom brought about its own set of challenges which included alcohol dependency, subsequently causing an anxiety disorder. Simon’s battles with the bottle nearly wrecked his marriage with Emma Gleave until she presented him with a stark choice.

Ultimately, he chose to stop drinking, yet this decision plunged him into intense anxiety, compelling him to take an extended six-month break from his work.

Loose Women panellist Gloria Hunniford has opened up about the changes she made to her diet after a warning from a doctor and the tragic death of her daughter, Caron

Loose Women star Gloria Hunniford’s lifestyle change after doctor’s warning and daughter’s death

Loose Women star Gloria Hunniford has opened up about her dietary overhaul following a health warning from her doctor.

Chatting with Woman Weekly, the seasoned TV personality, 84, revealed her new approach to eating: “I’d dieted before, but going on a medical diet gives you determination.” The former Strictly contestant didn’t have to sacrifice much, just a few daily staples: “I cut out all the sugar I could… (I also) gave up bread, pasta and potatoes.”

Gloria went into detail about her typical day’s meals since adopting her new regimen: “I’ll have egg or sausage for breakfast, but no bread. It’s soup or salad with fish for lunch, and in the evening I’ll replace potatoes with cauliflower, which has the same sort of crunch.”

The shift towards healthier living was prompted by a stark warning from her doctor after she was diagnosed as pre-diabetic: “My doctor said I was pre-diabetic and told me to take my life in my hands.” Although she sticks to a strict diet now, Gloria does allow herself the occasional indulgence of a “glass of wine or champagne”.

Gloria Hunniford shared details of her new diet after getting a warning from her doctor(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Gloria has previously opened up about the sad passing of her daughter in 2004(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Her commitment to her health has been further motivated by the tragic loss of her daughter over two decades ago, reports Gloucestershire Live. The late Blue Peter legend Caron Keating’s mother, Gloria, poignantly shared the heartache of losing her daughter at the age of 41 to breast cancer in April 2004.

In a candid confession to The Mirror in 2018, Gloria expressed the unbearable grief of a parent, saying: “Losing a child takes you to the darkest spot you could ever imagine.” She continued, confronting the cruel twist of fate: “There’s something extra hard about getting pregnant, carrying that baby, giving birth, treasuring that child, and then losing her.

“You don’t think all your children will end up with PHDs or anything, but you pray to God you’ll live long enough to see them live happy lives.” In August last year, Gloria lost her husband Stephen Way.

Gloria had been married to her husband since 1998, and his death left a profound gap in their lives. She touched upon this loss by saying in a recent interview: “Stephen was a gentleman and a giant of a man, who will leave the most enormous void not only in my life but our entire family.”

Reflecting on the kind-hearted nature of her late husband, she lovingly recalled: “He was an incredibly kind, generous, and caring man, with a delightfully quirky sense of humour, which remained till the end.”

Denise Welch has mocked her son Matt Healy after The 1975 frontman shared a story of his life as a struggling musician – with the TV star branding his account “absolute b******s”

Denise is very proud of her son – but she doesn’t believe all his stories(Image: Mike Webster/REX/Shutterstock)

Denise Welch, the Loose Women star, has bluntly dismissed her rock star son Matt Healy’s account of his past. She labelled his stories as “absolute b******s” during a recent podcast.

She laughed at how Matty, frontman of The 1975, downplayed his privileged upbringing, saying: “He told this story about how he slaved away laboriously working at Caffé Nero so that he could buy his first guitar. Absolute b******s!”

Denise had told Matty that she was happy to support him as he pursued his rock and roll dream, but insisted that he got himself a job as well. He managed to do just that, getting himself a job at the popular national coffee chain.

Denise says Matty’s childhood was quite comfortable, no matter what he says nowadays(Image: Mirrorpix)

Speaking on the My Favourite Takeaway podcast, Denise recalled: “He came back after a week and told me that he was going to get a certificate as the best trainee barista they’d ever had. I was as proud as if he’d said ‘barrister.’

“I was incredibly proud. It turned out – and I didn’t know until a significant amount of time later – that he had actually been fired after a week for being the worst trainee barista they’d ever had.”

She revealed that the gifted songwriter continued to leave their home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, for nearly a month, donning his Caffé Nero T-shirt to keep his parents in the dark. .

Matty’s version of his past is a little more ‘rock and roll’ than the reality, Denise says(Image: Getty Images)

Matty Healy and his songwriting partner George Daniel, the drummer for the 1975, took on a part-time job delivering takeaways for their local Chinese restaurant to make ends meet.

Denise jokingly recalled that whenever she and Matty’s dad, the actor Tim Healy, ordered food, it would take ages to arrive – unless Matty was at home, in which case it would arrive promptly, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Denise teased that Matty and George would always receive generous tips from his parents.

She playfully mocked Matty’s portrayal of his struggling musician days, saying: “It was almost like he was kicking a tin can down the back roads in some kind of, really dark, depressing place when he actually lived in a lovely house with his parents, who were tipping him all the time and buying food for him and his friends.

“But nevertheless this is obviously the ‘Liam Gallagher version’ of life that he’s chosen to project.”

Christine McGuinness has said she “didn’t realise” how sad and lonely she was until she split from her ex-husband Paddy McGuinness after 11 years of marriage

Christine McGuinness came to a heartbreaking realisation(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Christine McGuinness has opened up about a poignant realisation following her split from former husband Paddy. The pair went their separate ways in 2022, after 11 years of marriage which began with a lavish Cheshire wedding.

Despite their separation, Christine and Paddy still share the family home, a decision they’ve made to ensure stability for their three children – twins Penelope and Leo, 11, and Felicity, eight – who are all on the autism spectrum. Christine herself was diagnosed with autism while working on the documentary ‘Our Family and Autism’ in 2021, which delved into the lives of families with autistic children.

During her time with the ex-‘Take Me Out’ presenter, Christine admits to living almost like a recluse. In her memoir ‘A Beautiful Nightmare’, she reveals that she didn’t even have a hen party because she “didn’t have any friends”.

Post-separation, she confessed to The Times that life had always been intertwined with Paddy’s presence, but she has since recognised that her previous lifestyle may have caused her to miss out on new experiences. She shared with the newspaper: “Those years that I missed out on friendships, I thought I was fine. I didn’t realise how sad and lonely I was. It’s only recently, as I’ve been doing more, I’m like, ‘Wow, there’s a whole life to live out there that I didn’t know existed’ because I very much stayed at home.”

(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Christine has confessed that the unknown is “really scary” to her, even admitting that it’s “scary not knowing what life’s going to bring,” which she believes is a common feeling among autistic women. She’s one of the celebs taking part in Celebrity Hunted, where they’ll be on the run for 14 days trying to outsmart security experts, all in aid of Stand Up to Cancer, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The reality star recently opened up on the unique Christmas plans she shared with her ex-husband despite the divorce.

“The last thing we want to do is upset our children over Christmas, so we’ll make sure we’re all together,” she told Woman’s Own. “It will be a quiet one. We always try to keep it quiet, because the children can get quite overwhelmed with the changes. So we try to keep it like a normal day but with presents.”

(Image: PA)

“If someone didn’t know our situation and came to our house and they spent the day with us, they would not have a clue [we were not together],” Paddy told the Mirror in April. “We get on well, we live together and co-parent. We get the lawyers back and forth but that’s separate – that’s a different thing.”

The ex-Real Housewives of Cheshire star teams up with crooner Duncan James, while Strictly’s Kai Widdrington joins forces with Giovanni Pernice, while Loose Women star Denise Welch teams up with husband Lincoln Townley.

star Denise Welch will be on the lam with hubby Lincoln Townley. It kicks off tonight (Sunday, January 5) at 9pm.

Loose Women star Ruth Langsford was forced to take time off over Christmas after her 94-year-old mum Joan suffered a painful fall and fractured her pelvis

During the latest episode of Loose Women, Coleen Nolan interrupted the programme just minutes into it, expressing concern for her colleague and mate, Ruth Langsford.

As the ITV show got underway on Monday (January 6), with Ruth reading the day’s line-up alongside panellists Kelly Brook and Brenda Edwards, Coleen unexpectedly cut in: “Just before we carry on with all of that. I know your mum had a fall before Christmas, how is she doing?”

Ruth, aged 64, then opened up about the distressing incident, sharing that her 94 year old mum Joan had experienced a nasty fall, yet thankfully, she was “doing alright”.

Coleen Nolan was concerned about Ruth Langsford’s mum(Image: ITV)

Eager to update everyone, the television personality described her mother as incredibly resilient: “She is a warrier my mum, she really is. She is like titanium and it’s just amazing but I’ve been worried about her.”

Delving into the details, Ruth added that Joan suffered a fracture: “She had a fall in the middle of December and fractured her pelvis which is really painful. I said at the time ‘aw thank goodness she hasn’t broken anything’ and the doctor said a fracture is worse because it takes a lot longer to heal,” reports the Liverpool Echo.

Highlighting her mother’s strength, Ruth concluded with admiration: “You know how stoic my mum is. She had a hip replacement last year and literally had paracetamol and she was up in three days but she has been in so much pain and it has been horrible.”

Ruth Langsford with her mother, Joan(Image: ruthlangsford/Instagram)

Ruth shared an emotional update with Loose Women viewers, revealing her mother’s recent hospital ordeal: “She’s been in hospital and we only got her out on Friday but she is out of hospital and we’ve got her home now so happy again. It’s been a tough one and I know so many people, when you have an elderly parent who needs care, it’s different isn’t it.”

The TV presenter continued, expressing her dedication despite the challenges: “I love my mum so I don’t resent it and it could have been a lot worse but she has just got to do a mixture of resting and also movement, it’s a combination of the two but she is amazing and she is doing well so thank you.”

Ruth has been open about her mother Joan’s health struggles, noting that this fall was not the first holiday mishap, as Joan had previously broken her hip at Christmas in 2023.

Joan’s health concerns have been ongoing, with Ruth mentioning that her mother is currently receiving at-home care for dementia.

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford announced the end of their 14 year marriage in May, and a relationship expert has now warned the pair over the speed of their divorce

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford’s rush to finalise their divorce could pile on “additional stress”, a relationship guru has cautioned. The pair, who share a 22 year old son, left fans gobsmacked in May when they revealed their split after 14 years of marriage.

Eamonn, 65, has since found love with relationship counsellor Katie Alexander, 42, while Ruth, also 65, is said to be flying solo. A source claimed to The Sun that Eamonn is particularly eager “for a fresh start” come 2025, prompting Chloé Moreau from ExpertsEnRencontres to weigh in on the potential pitfalls of speeding through a divorce.

“Fast-tracking a divorce can certainly bring closure and allow individuals to move on with their lives,” she noted. She suggested that for Eamonn, the push might be fuelled by his eagerness to turn the page with his new flame, whereas for Ruth, it could mean a chance to seek stability and carve out her own future.

Yet, Chloé flagged up that the swift pace “should not come at the expense of addressing the emotional and practical implications for both parties”.

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford are reportedly keen to finalise their divorce(Image: GETTY)

She stressed that divorce isn’t just about legalities but also an emotional journey, and hurrying might leave feelings unresolved or ramp up stress levels. Moreover, she advised that the ex-duo should aim for an equitable deal that caters to both their needs in the divorce settlement, reports Belfast Live.

Chloé offered some sage advice on navigating the split, suggesting that “if handled thoughtfully, a fast resolution could empower both Eamonn and Ruth to embrace their new beginnings while minimising conflict and uncertainty”.

Meanwhile, Ruth recently opened up about her separation from Eamonn for the first time since the announcement. On Loose Women, she discussed the importance of divorced parents acting selflessly at family events, saying: “I think it’s very selfish when you hear parents say, ‘Well if they are divorced then, I’m not coming to your wedding if he’s coming’ or ‘If she is there’ and I just think it’s so selfish isn’t it, because it is their day.”

Mariella Frostrup chimed in with: “That’s a whole other subject isn’t it? How to divorce well.”

To which Ruth wittily replied: “Oh, tell me about it,” eliciting laughter from everyone in the studio.

Eamonn has also publicly acknowledged the split, expressing gratitude to his supporters on his GB News show shortly after the news broke.

Loose Women star Coleen Nolan has candidly opened up about a topic that too many women shy away from due to its sensitive nature – bladder leakage – and why she makes sure to chat about the topic with her kids

Coleen Nolan has opened up about a ‘taboo’ women’s health issue(Image: COPYRIGHT Rebecca Lupton 2024)

Coleen Nolan isn’t one to shy away from taboo topics and now the Loose Women panellist is talking about another issue not often talked about – bladder leakage

The television presenter said she often talks about it with her fellow hosts but it’s not usually things like bladder control are discussed on-air.

“We have talked about it among ourselves,” says Coleen, 59. “We’ll say, ‘Oh my God, I wet myself at that yesterday’ or ‘I nearly wet myself today laughing at that topic’ After the show when we are back in our dressing rooms, we talk about it, doing our debrief. I love the fact that you don’t have to feel alone with it.”

Since she had her first child at the age of 23, Colleen has experienced leakage which has become worse over the years, particularly after sneezing, laughing, or coughing.

“My bladder issues were from having my first child really,” she adds. “When you are younger, and they are going on at you about doing your pelvic floor exercises, you say ‘yeah, whatever’. I’d do them, but not regularly, and then three children later you think ‘Maybe I should have done them when I was told’.”

She is now an ambassador for Always Discreet, who make products for people with sensitive bladders, and says she has come to understand how widespread it is.

Muscles

The Loose Women star said leakages are more common than people think and do not just affect older people.

“One in three women experience bladder leaks,” says Coleen. “And it’s 100 per cent not associated with old age.

Coleen highly recommends making pelvic floor exercises part of your regular routine(Image: Getty Images)

“I’ve met women from their early 20s to my age and above who have all experienced it at some time. Bladder leaks are very common. It’s something that we need to stop being embarrassed about. They just happen.

“It’s not an everyday occurrence with me, it’s if you sneeze, cough, or laugh. Laughing is a big one. I go out with my friends and we all say ‘Don’t make me laugh or I’ll wee’.”

Bladder leakage can be caused by weakened muscles, nerve damage, certain medications, and certain foods and drinks.

And it can be debilitating for some people – Always Discreet research showed that 87 per cent of UK women said bladder leaks disrupted their daily activities, 50 per cent said it was a source of embarrassment and anxiety, and 48 per cent said it was a taboo subject. Coleen wants to change that.

She discusses bladder leakage with her sisters and is open in front of her children, Shane, 36, and Jake, 32 from her marriage to EastEnders ‘ star Shane Richie, and daughter Ciara, 23, from her marriage to guitarist Ray Fensome.

“The lovely thing I’ve got with my sons and my daughter is we talk about everything. We’ve talked about periods in front of the boys. I wish I had had more of that as a child.

“My mum didn’t talk about anything. She had eight children and I didn’t even know about periods. I found out about them because of my older sisters. She was of that era when private stuff stayed private.”

In the survey, 94 per cent of women said they did not do pelvic floor exercises as regularly as they should. Research shows that doing three lots of strengthening exercises every day can help to reduce or even prevent you having bladder leaks.

Most women don’t exercise their pelvic floor enough(Image: Getty Images)

Coleen says she has been incorporating her pelvic floor exercises into her daily routine. “You don’t have to give up any time of your day to do them. I can do them while I’m mucking the horses out, feeding the animals, or making a cup of tea. And no one knows you are doing them. It’s just getting into the habit.

“It’s retraining a muscle. As long as you are tensing your muscles they are going to build up. It’s like starting at a gym, all of a sudden, you are going to see the difference it makes.”

It’s not the only thing that is making a difference in her life. “In lockdown, me and my daughter went plant-based and that has made a massive difference,” says Coleen. “I was on painkillers and she had a lot of women’s issues that weren’t going away. We watched a couple of documentaries and decided to give it a try.

“Within two weeks I was off painkillers and all her issues stopped. It was incredible how fast it helped just by cutting out meat and dairy.”

In June last year, Coleen moved to a smallholding in Staffordshire where she has a menagerie of animals including horses, ducks, chickens, cats, dogs, and pygmy goats. Her daughter Ciara lives on-site in an annexe.

“Ciara is vegan and I’m 100 per cent vegetarian and 80 per cent vegan, only because of the amount of travelling I do. It was for health reasons initially as I loved meat and dairy but then I thought ‘I can’t have all these animals running around and then sit down and eat a chicken’.

Coleen lives with her daughter Ciara in Staffordshire(Image: coleen_nolan/Instagram)

“The thing with animals is even if you wake up and think, ‘I’m really down today’, you can’t have a duvet day because they are all looking at you demanding ‘feed me, walk me, groom me!’.

“It forces you out of that situation and of course, fresh air and exercise are amazing for your mental health.”

Skincare

Another issue Coleen wants to tackle this year is her skin. “I’ve got a couple of pre-melanoma skin cancers that the doctors said will be an issue later in life, but I don’t want to wait as an auntie passed away because of skin cancer a couple of years ago.

“I have two little marks – one on my nose and one on my cheek. The doctors said they are pre-melanomas from [sun exposure in] my childhood. It’s really common in people my age.

“Back in the 1960s and 1970s, no one bothered with suncream. I used to be out all day playing. I burned and I’ve got really pale, freckly Irish skin. I never sit in the sun now, I’m always under a shade.”

It’s clear, despite a hectic life travelling between Staffordshire and London for work, looking after herself is a priority for Coleen.

“I’m 60 this year,” she says. “I’m going to try and carry on being as healthy as I can.”

Always Discreet has partnered with Coleen Nolan on its “Squeeze the Day” campaign which aims to encourage all women to make bladder leak prevention and management part of their daily routine.

Michael McIntyre’s Big Show viewers were left convinced they had worked out the truth behind the first unexpected star of the new series of the BBC programme

BBC viewers were left disgruntled mere minutes into the show when Michael McIntyre introduced an unexpected guest.

Lorna Brown, 41, from West Lothian was introduced, who had journeyed to London for a weekend break with her husband Scott, their three children and her parents. Michael informed viewers: “She thinks she’s about to check into an AirBnb which we have built here,” as he gestured towards a door on stage.

He offered a brief tour of the backstage apartments and hinted at a surprise waiting for her inside a makeshift fridge, which concealed the show’s live audience. After a series of playful antics, including Lorna watching Strictly Come Dancing’s head judge Shirley Ballas perform a risqué routine with an audience member, she finally opened the fridge door.

To Lorna’s astonishment, she emerged onto the stage to a thunderous applause from the theatre audience. However, viewers weren’t convinced that the surprise star was unaware of her impending appearance on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.

To Lorna’s astonishment, she emerged onto the stage to a thunderous applause from the theatre audience ( 
Image:
BBC)

One viewer commented: “I think the unexpected star didnt seem very surprised when she opened the fridge. I think somebody had warned her beforehand. #michaelmcintyresbigshowAnother noted: “She knew…. #michaelmcintyresbigshow.

“A third speculated: “She absolutely knew what was happening, she didn’t look that surprised, she knew fine #michaelmcintyresbigshow”Another viewer commented on the shock exposure, saying: “This woman absolutely knew what was happening #michaelmcintyresbigshow. “Michael McIntyre himself then confirmed that the lady’s family was in the crowd as he probed her about whether she had any inkling she’d be starring on the show. ”

“No, but then I started to think something is going on,” the participant admitted. Overwhelmed with emotion, Lorna disclosed her passion for music, revealing she leads a community choir and has been singing since she was eight years old.

Michael McIntyre’s Big Show viewers ‘work out’ truth behind ‘unexpected’ star ( 
Image:
BBC)
Her moment in the spotlight resulted in a breathtaking performance – Lorna wowed everyone by delivering Leona Lewis’s rendition of Snow Patrol’s hit ‘Run’. The awe-inspiring act led to a shower of compliments from the audience, as one fan effused: “#michaelmcintyresbigshow belted that out and made it look easy, well done.

“Another admirer shared: “Amazing #MichaelMcIntyresBigShow,” and yet another enthused: “Best part of the show – unexpected star. And Lorna, you looked and sounded incredible. Beautiful performance #michaelmcintyresbigshow. “A different viewer exclaimed: “Lorna absolutely killing it on #MichaelMcIntyresBigShow amazing vocal talent!

“Meanwhile, a hopeful spectator suggested: “She’s very good. Get her for Eurovision this year! #MichaelMcIntyresBigShow.”

Darragh Ennis, also known as The Menace on ITV quiz show The Chase, appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday (January 22), where he opened up about losing his dad to dementia

The Chase star Darragh Ennis has revealed he struggled to film the ITV gameshow after his dad died from dementia.

Darragh, who is also known as The Menace, appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday (January 22) to discuss his father’s battle with the neurological disease.

After losing his dad in July 2024, Darragh shared that was “playing to a script” while going about his daily life, especially when he returned to The Chase.

“In the end it was quite sudden. He had been physically quite well but then I got a phone call, and I barely made it home in time,” he said, adding that he was left “broken” inside.

Darragh Ennis appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday (January 22) ( 
Image:
ITV)

“We had a natural break in filming, but when I did go back to work, I was put under that stressful situation,” Darragh continued.

He revealed that he struggled to answer questions under time restraint, saying: “Normally when I start making mistakes, I’d naturally be able to handle it.

“I’d just plant my feet and keep going, but this time when I went to put my feet down, there was nothing underneath them. They just fell away.”

Darragh also shared that he got “camera shy” as the pressure completely “overwhelmed” him.

Darragh Ennis lost his father to dementia in July 2024 ( 
Image:
ITV)
“I had a couple of episodes like that, where every time I tried to reach for that part of myself that’s normally very calm under pressure, it wasn’t there anymore,” he continued.

Darragh explained that the producers quickly clocked onto his struggles and offered him extra time off. They’ve also arranged for counselling

When he was first offered help, Darragh initially “shrugged it away” as he didn’t want to admit that he was struggling. Once he accepted the support, he acknowledged that it felt like he was being saved from “drowning”.

In light of his experiences, Darragh has since become an Ambassador for grief charity At a Loss.

The Chase airs weekdays at 5pm on ITV1

The Loose Women star was letting slip some details of her friendship with Sir Elton John live on This Morning when Ben Shephard had to step in and cut her off

Ben Shephard had to cut Janet Street-Porter off when she was trying to tell a story about Sir Elton John live on This Morning. The broadcast legend, 78, had joined Ben, along with Cat Deeley, on Wednesday’s edition of the ITV magazine show to promote her upcoming UK tour, and the hosts couldn’t resist asking her about her friendship with Sir Elton John.

The Loose Women star spoke about her early work in films centred around the era of punk acts in the 1970s and, to her surprise, they caught the attention of Elton and he reached out to her, although she initially thought it was all a wind-up.

She explained: “I did a film for ITV, I was doing this series for young people. I did a lot of films about the emergence of punk, so I made many films with The Sex Pistols, John Lydon, about all the clothes and the fashion.

“But I suppose to older musicians, my generation, Elton is my age, it must have been so astonishing to see this explode!”

“Elton rang me up one day, my husband said ‘Oh Elton John is on the phone’, and I thought it was a joke. I went to the phone ‘Yeah?’ and it was Elton. He said not to hang up, he’d seen the show and said it was amazing. He said ‘Please come to my house for lunch, and I want you to tell me what it’s like…’

Janet-Street-Porter was on This Morning to promote her upcoming tour and talked about her showbiz pal Elton John(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

The former I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! campmate then admitted she had been a “bit of a cow” during her initial phone call with Elton, but host Ben was forced to step in to stop her talking.

Warning her that there were just “five seconds left” before the weather report had to be brought in, he advised her to save the rest of that anecdote for the tour she is about to embark on, and the three of them burst into laughter as the programme cut away.

The Tipping Point host was engrossed in Janet’s revelations but had to jump in to cut her off(Image: ITV)

But things obviously worked out okay for Janet and Elton, as they have been showbiz pals for decades, and the former newspaper editor showed her support to him when it became apparent that he was having major issues with his sight.

During one of her regular appearances on Loose Women, she said: “It’s very tough. He’s been on the phone about it, he’s called me. I think it really affected him because he suffers from glaucoma and he had one eye that was OK and another eye which is a weak eye.

“I think the virus got him in the good eye so I think its left him with very very poor vision. It’s impossible for him to read, and it’s very very difficult. It’s made him feel very isolated and he’s a very proud person.”

Admitting Elton wouldn’t have wanted to share the diagnosis, she added: “He would not have wanted to share that because he wouldn’t want people to pity him. He doesn’t want our sympathy, it’s a battle he’s got to fight himself. Nothing we can do for him but send him our love and support. When he started telling me about it, I could see how distressed he was and it really got to me.

“The reason partly is because I’ve got glaucoma in my right eye and very very poor sight in my right eye. I could see what had happened to him and the way he sought all these different remedies and nothing has worked so far, but he’s still optimistic.”